Sommerset County Boys Basketball: Gill St. Bernard's Austin Colbert commits to play at Illinois University

Gill St. Bernard’s Austin Colbert, Rivals’ 37th ranked prospect in the nation, committed to Illinois University on Monday.

The 6’9 center narrowed his choices to Miami, Seton Hall and Villanova before deciding to become a Fighting Illini.

Colbert transferred to Gill St. Bernard’s after spending his junior year in Connecticut’s Hotchkiss School and his freshman and sophomore seasons at St. Patrick’s.

“Since he transferred, he has to sit out 30 days,” said Gill St. Bernard’s coach Mergin Sina. “He’ll be able to learn the system. He’s a long, athletic kid, with a lot of upside. Hopefully he’ll be able to jump right in.”

The last time Colbert played in New Jersey, he was a sophomore on a St. Patrick’s team that defeated Gill St. Bernard’s 69-41 in the semifinals of the North Jersey, Non-Public B bracket. Colbert only scored six points in the game and averaged 3.92 points per game with the Celtics his sophomore season.

Colbert, a four-star rated prospect by Rivals, will enter Gill St. Bernard’s with the chance to be a standout player, a role that Sina feels he can excel in.

“When he played at St. Pat’s, he was under the shadow of (Michael) Gilchrist,” Sina said. “He is going to be in a bigger role on this team than he was there.”

Gill St. Bernard’s point guard Jaren Sina, who committed to Northwestern last July, played AAU ball with Colbert and will have a threat in the paint when distributing the ball.

“It will be great for Jaren,” said Sina. “He’s a great passer and will be able to pick his head up and see Colbert’s big body down low.”

Colbert made ESPN’s All-Connecticut second team at the beginning of last season and is currently ranked as the nation’s 12th best center by rivals.

Earlier this month, the Chesapeake product returned to Virginia where he participated in the NBPA top 100 Camp along with fellow Illinois commits Kendrick Nunn and Malcolm Hill.